Show hidden files in Finder — via Yann Bertrand, macos-defaults.com

Commandlow riskmacOS 14 Sonoma and later

macOS hides dotfiles (like .zshrc or .gitignore) and system folders from Finder. A keyboard shortcut flips them into view in Finder windows, and it stays that way until you change it back.

Relaunch the app it changes (Finder, Dock…) to see it

The easy way

  1. The easy way: in any Finder window, press Shift + Command + . (period) to show hidden files. Press it again to hide them. The shortcut changes the same Finder setting as the command, so it sticks until you toggle it back.
  2. Or run the command in Terminal to set it directly. Finder restarts and comes back with hidden files visible.

Command

Run in Terminal (Applications › Utilities).

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true; killall Finder

Undo

defaults delete com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles; killall Finder
Be careful not to move or delete hidden system items you don't recognise.

Sources

Source reviewed
2026-11-02
Link checked
2026-11-02
Tested hands-on
Not by Oddbyte.Me

Oddbyte.Me hasn't tried this on every macOS version, so keep the undo handy.

hidden filesdotfilesfindershow all filesAppleShowAllFiles

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